Music News

Country Music Hall of FameTrisha Yearwood is headed to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Thursday, July 9 for an interview and performance at the CMA Theater. The appearance celebrates her new Hall of Fame exhibit, “Trisha Yearwood: The Song Remembers When,” opening July 3.

“It’s such a thrill to see my life and career milestones displayed in an exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum,” Trisha says, “from the first guitar I ever played to the dress I wore to the Grammys on the night I won Best Female Country Vocal Performance for “How Do I Live.” I’m so happy to be able to share these memories with my country music family.”

The new exhibit also features several stage costumes and awards from Trisha’s multi-platinum career, as well as the receipt for her first demo recording in 1983, paid for by her father. You can also check out the wedding gown Trisha wore when she married Garth Brooks in 2005, as well as a letter Johnny Cash wrote to Trisha, telling her that she has “what it takes to make it big — and stay there.”

Capitol NashvilleLittle Big Town‘s Jimi Westbrook will undergo surgery next week to remove a polyp from his vocal cord. While he’s expected to make a full recovery, Jimi will have to go on voice rest to recover from the surgery. That means all of Little Big Town’s shows through July 30 will be canceled or rescheduled.

The band says in a statement, “It breaks our hearts to let you guys down, but Jimi’s health is the most important thing and he is expected to make a full recovery with rest and treatment. We will keep everyone updated on Jimi’s progress. Thanks for your understanding and support.”

For details on Little Big Town’s canceled and rescheduled dates, go to LittleBigTown.com.

Sunshine SachsTrace Adkins and his wife, Rhonda, have settled their divorce amicably, according to Trace’s attorney, Larry Hayes, Jr. Hayes says in a statement that the couple worked together to settle the matter in the best interest of their family.

The statement continues, “All that remains is for the court to approve the agreements that have been executed by them both. An updated petition seeking such Court approval will be filed in the coming days.”

Rhonda filed for divorce in 2014 citing irreconcilable differences. They were married in 1997 and have three daughters together.

Nino MunozKacey Musgraves is on the cover of Redbook‘s July issue. Inside, she explains why she doesn’t worry about people getting upset with her lyrics sharing her support of marijuana usage and equality for the LGBT community.

She says, “I’ve come to conclusion that people are always going to find a way to be offended about something, and it’s almost like they want to be. I won’t be everybody’s cup of tea. I’ve found peace in that. I’m cool with not being the biggest superstar on the planet. I don’t let people’s approval make or break what I’m doing.”

Kacey isn’t a wild child on the road, though. In fact, her life as a touring country singer is pretty low-key.

“I think the craziest thing we do is venture out and find a Thai place on Yelp that we’ve never been to,” says Kacey. “We might jam a little bit and have some wine.”

As for her stint as an opening act with Katy Perry last year, Kacey says the pop star is just as you would expect her to be in real life.

“I mean, she’s got major balls,” Kacey tells Redbook. “You can put this on the record: I’ve seen Katy Perry’s proverbial balls. She’s had some doors slammed in her face, and it’s cool to see that if you keep doing what you think is good, it will work out.”

Redbook‘s July issue is on sale June 23, the same day as Kacey’s sophomore album, Pageant Material.

Universal Music GroupAlan Jackson‘s new album, Angels and Alcohol, doesn’t hit stores until July 17, but the country superstar is sharing a song from the project now on Vevo. The uptempo song is called “Jim and Jack and Hank” and features Alan’s traditional country style in full effect.

Alan headlines the Rock the South Festival in Cullman, Alabama this weekend.

Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkstockThe Cadillac Three welcomed a few industry insiders to the Adventure Science Center in Nashville Tuesday night to premiere their brand-new video, “White Lightning.” The clip premieres Wednesday on CMT.

Greenroom PR/Russ HarringtonReba reunites with longtime pals and frequent collaborators Brooks & Dunn Wednesday night for the launch of their Together in Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Before signing on for the gig, Reba and her husband/manager, Narvel Blackstock, caught Shania Twain‘s show at Caesars Palace. That experience got them excited to dream up a show of their own with Brooks & Dunn.

Reba tells ABC Radio, “It was amazing to watch [Shania’s] show. All the different things you can do. It was colorful. It was theatrical. There were things moving all the time.”

If you caught Reba’s live show in the ’90s, you know she wowed the crowd with multiple costume changes and lots of flashy stage tricks and dance troupes backing her up. As time went on, Reba stopped changing clothes during her shows in order to spend more time on stage with the audience. Sharing the bill with Brooks & Dunn allows her to bring back some of those bells and whistles for the Vegas crowd.

“While I’m backstage changing clothes, I know they’re gonna be entertained with Ronnie and Kix,” Reba says, noting that she won’t have a separate set from the duo. “We’re gonna do a mingle show. We’re not gonna be — their 30 minutes, my 30 minutes. We’re gonna be together.”

Of course, choosing which of her more than 60 top-10 hits to include in the relatively short set list is a big challenge.

Reba says, “Tell me about it! It’s hard. So, there might be a few medleys to be able to put some more songs in, but we’re so excited.”

One song Reba can’t leave out of any set list is her signature song, “Fancy,” and she promises a “spectacular” production for that number.

Reba says, “I will tell you I have spent more time on ‘Fancy’s’ outfit than any other outfit for the show. I’ve spent more time on it than I did the set list, than anything else for the show.”

As for her pals Kix and Ronnie, Reba expects to share a lot of laughs with the guys both on stage and off as they play shows through July 4 in Vegas. They’ll be back for another round of shows in December.

She says of Brooks & Dunn, “They’re intelligent. They’re witty. Great storytellers, and I just like to hang out with ’em.”

Though the two acts have worked together for more than two decades now, Reba says she and Brooks & Dunn have very different approaches when it comes to putting a show together.

“They’re deep. I’m very surface,” Reba says. “I just stay right here on the surface. I’m what-you-see-is-what-you-get, and they can go deep in a conversation. ‘Why do you do this?’ and ‘Did you think that?’ I said, ‘Woah, no, no. I just said it was a good idea, and let’s just go do it.’ They’re the ones who will dissect it to death, yeah.”

You can bet Reba and Brooks & Dunn are ready to go for Wednesday night’s opening show at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. For a complete list of show dates, go to RebaBrooksandDunn.com.

Southern Ground/BMLG/Varvatos2015 is halfway over, so Rolling Stone has rounded up its list of the 45 Best Albums of 2015 So Far. Zac Brown Band‘s Jekyll + Hyde made the cut along with Chris Stapleton‘s debut project, Traveller.

It won’t be out until June 23, but Kacey Musgraves‘ sophomore album, Pageant Material, is also mentioned on Rolling Stone‘s unranked list. Projects from Madonna, Bob Dylan and Drake also made the list.

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